Part 14 — SPECIFIC PLAN

The city recognizes that certain properties in the city may benefit from focused planning efforts wherein infrastructure, land use relationships, land use intensities, public service needs and resource protection goals can be carefully examined and planned in a comprehensive manner. The specific plan provides a mechanism to carry out such planning efforts. The following regulations establish uniform procedures and guidelines for specific plans prepared pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code Tit. 7, Div. 1, Ch. 3, Art. 8.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

(A) The City Council may identify those portions of the city where a specific plan is appropriate by adopting a resolution of intention for a specific plan designation. At the discretion of the City Council, specific plans may be initiated and prepared by the city or by a property owner or owners of any parcels subject to requirements of this chapter.

(B) For any specific plan application submitted by a property owner or owners, or a designated representative, a pre-application meeting with the Director of Community Development shall be required prior to the formal submission of the specific plan application. The purpose of this meeting is to review with the applicant the city’s requirements for specific plan content, applicable policies, infrastructure needs and other information as determined by the Director of Community Development.

(C) In addition to a formal application completed pursuant to the requirements of this chapter, the applicant shall submit a draft specific plan containing text and diagrams containing all information specified in Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 65452 and 65452, as well as other information, standards and requirements specified by the city. (Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

Applications for a specific plan shall be processed in accordance with these guidelines.

(A) The Planning Commission shall review the application, consider pertinent facts, and provide a recommendation to the City Council on the specific plan application, which shall be in the form of an adopted resolution for approval, approval with modifications or denial of the application.

(B) If the City Council proposes any substantial modification to the specific plan not previously considered by the Planning Commission, the Council shall refer the matter back to the Planning Commission for consideration. No public hearing shall be required. Failure of the Commission to act within 45 days of receiving the Council’s request shall provide the Council with the authority to act without the recommendation.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

The City Council shall make the following findings to approve a specific plan and any amendment thereto:

(A) The specific plan is consistent with and provides for the orderly, systematic and specific implementation of the General Plan;

(B) The land use and development regulations within the specific plan are comparable in breadth and depth to regulations contained in this chapter;

(C) The specific plan will not adversely affect the public health and safety or result in incompatible land uses;

(D) The specific plan provides the framework to phase and pace growth within the specific plan area so as to ensure completion of all necessary public facilities concurrently with completion of development entailed in the specific plan; and

(E) The specific plan identifies adequate financing mechanisms for the infrastructure and public facilities required to support the development.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

The final action on the specific plan by the City Council shall be adoption of the plan documents by ordinance or resolution. The rezoning of the subject property to a specific plan district shall be adopted by ordinance of the City Council.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

Any specific plan may be amended by the same procedure as the specific plan is adopted. The city may initiate amendments to any portion of a specific plan. The following changes to a specific plan shall require a specific plan amendment:

(A) Changes to the text or maps other than the addition of information that does not change the effect of any regulation;

• (B) Changes in any specific plan boundary;

• (C) Changes in the specified density for any area; and

• (D) Changes in standards or regulations, including landscaping and design standards.

• (Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)